By Tim Douglas 
Freedom Dominate MINY to Seal Qualifier 1 Spot as Playoff Picture Finalized
A well-rounded display from Washington Freedom saw them cruise past MI New York by six wickets in a rain-shortened clash, securing a top-two finish and a place in Qualifier 1 of the 2025 Major League Cricket season.
Despite the defeat, MI New York’s Net Run Rate advantage ensured they clinched the final playoff spot, edging out the Seattle Orcas, who will now watch the postseason from the sidelines.
MINY, aware of their healthy net run rate cushion, opted to rest several first-team players and fielded a youthful side. The decision proved double-edged. While it provided fresh faces a chance to impress, the lack of experience showed as their batting unit failed to build momentum on a sticky surface.
Batting first in an 18-over contest due to early rain, MINY lost Monank Patel and Nicholas Pooran inside the powerplay. Glenn Maxwell’s canny off-spin created immediate impact, removing two middle-order batters in quick succession. Glenn Phillips joined the party with a brilliant over, taking two wickets for just four runs.
In the midst of the collapse, debutant Kunwarjeet Singh stood out, compiling a calm 33 off 28 and showing great promise. Contributions from Sunny Patel and Heath Richards helped MI New York post 112/8, a total that always felt below par.
Washington’s response was steady despite early hiccups. Losing Mitch Owen and Rachin Ravindra inside five overs, the Freedom needed stability. Mark Chapman provided just that with a fluent 27, setting the stage for Andries Gous to take charge.
Gous batted with composure and maturity, striking three boundaries in a single over to shift the momentum entirely. His unbeaten 46 off 34 guided Washington home with three overs to spare, reinforcing their credentials as title contenders.
With the league stage complete, Washington Freedom and MI New York now head to Dallas for the playoffs. Freedom’s strong season earns them a direct shot at the final, while MINY must regroup quickly for the Eliminator, where their bench strength may prove vital.
Match Summary:
MI New York 112/8 in 18 overs (K. Singh 33, Maxwell 3/29, Phillips 2/4)
Washington Freedom 113/4 in 15 overs (Gous 46*, Chapman 27).
Result: Washington Freedom won by 6 wickets (18 balls remaining).
Zainab Shafiq